Fire-escape ladder



(No Model.)

' W. G. BUSH.

' FIRE ESGAPE LADDER. No. 275,135. Patented Apr. 3,1883.

S S S WITNESSES: INVBNTOR:

W BY v ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESLEY C. BUSH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,135, dated April 3, 1883.

Application filed November 11, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, WESLEY O. BUSH, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape Ladder, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved fire-escape ladder which can be wound upon a drum, which ladder is flexible in one direction and stiff in the other, and which is provided at its lower end with a foot-piece which automatically adjusts itself on the ground and forms a support for the ladder.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my improved flexible ladder and foot-piece, showing the foot-piece hanging from the lower end of the ladder, parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a like longitudinal elevation, showing the foot-piece resting on the ground. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the ladder and foot-piece in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail longitudinal elevation of the joint-piece. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same.

The ladder is formed of two side pieces, A, connected by rung-bars B, which are placed suitable distances apart, the said side pieces being formed of a series of segmental or trussshaped links, which are united by pi vots passed through the ends of the said link-pieces, the side surfaces of the ends of the link pieces resting against each other. As shown in Fig. 3, three and four link-pieces are united alternately; but more or less may be coupled together, as may be desired, according to the length and required strength of the ladder. A U-shaped joint-piece, E, which has its ends beveled or recessed to make it very light, is passed over the ends of the links, and the coupling-pins D are passed through the end shanks of the said joint-pieces E. The ladder is to be attached to the house in such a manner that the concave edges of the links will be toward the house and the convex edges from the house, and the cross-pieces of the joint-pieces are to pass over the endsof the convex'edgesofthelinks. The ladder can fold toward the side of the concave edges of the links, but cannot fold toward the side of the convex edges of the links, and thus is stilfin that direction, and, whenlowered, stiffensitself automatically because of the cross-pieces of the joint-pieces E, against which the ends of the convex edges of the links strike. To the lower rung-bar B a series of long links, (3, are pivoted, and to the same a series of bars, F,'are pivoted, the outer ends of the outer bars F being united by a heavy block or casting, G. Onrvedbars H are pivoted to theinnermost of the bars F, and are each provided with a longitudinal slot, J, through which a pin, K, passes, which projects from the innermost of the long links 0. Directly below the slot the lower curved edge of each curved bar H is provided with a series of teeth, L, which are adapted to catch on a pin, M, projecting from the inner surface of the innermost long link 0. A spring, N, attached to'the inner surface of the innermost long link 0, rests on the upper curved edge of the curved bar H and presses the toothed edge on the pin M. The lower end of each bar H is provided with a broad foot-piece, which is adapted to rest on the ground, preventingit from moving forward or backward. A stud, 0, projects from the outer surface of the outermost long link 0 at the lower ends of the same, against which stud O the upper edges of the pivoted ends of the outermost bars F are adapted to strike to prevent the long links 0 from folding over the bars F. A joint-piece, P, resembling the joint-piecesE,'is attached to thelower endsof the lowest links O,buton the opposite side of the latter to that on which the jointpieces E are secured, which joint-piece P, in addition to the studs 0, holds thelowestlinks O erect on the ends of the bars F.

The above-described ladder is adapted to be wound on a drum on the top of a house, and is to be released in case of fire. The heavy block G draws the ladder downward until the said block G strikes the ground, and then the pivoted ends of the bars F and the ends of the longlinks O strike the ground. Therebythe bars F will be drawn in the position as shown in Fig. 2, the foot ends of the curved bars H rest on the ground, the teeth L-slide over the stud M, and, finally, one of the teeth catches on I .iron,or ofcast-iron, or any other suitable metal,

as may he desired.

The above-described ladder is very simple in construction, is very durable, and is fully adapted to be wound on a drum.

The above-described ladder is designed for use as a fire-escape ladder, but can be used for any other purpose for which a flexible ladder is used.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to form the sides ofa tire-escape ladder of curved links having each end pivoted to a rung; but

What I do claim as new is- 1. In a flexible fire-escape ladder, the combination, with a series of segmental or trussshaped links, 0, pivoted to each other, oft-he U-shaped joint-pieces E, through the ends of which the pivots or rung-bars pass, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a flexible ladder, of a foot-piece formed of bars F, pivoted to the lowest links, and of bars H, pivoted to the bars F and adapted to be held to the lowest links, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a flexible ladder, of the bars F, pivoted to the lowest links, the weighted cross-piece G, the bars H, pivoted to the bars F and adapted to be held to the lowest links, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with a flexible ladder, of the bars F, pivoted to the lowest links, the curved bars H, each provided with a slot, J, and the studs K, projecting from the lowest links, substantially as herein shown and described, aud for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with a flexible ladder, of the bars F, pivoted to the lowest links, the curved bars H, each provided with a slot, J, and the teeth L, andt-he studs K and M, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with a flexible ladder, of the bars F, pivoted to the lowest links, the curved bars H, pivoted to the bars F, and each provided with a slot, J, and teeth L, the studs K and M, and the springs N, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with a flexible ladder, of the bars F, pivoted to the lowest links, and the studs 0, projecting from the outer surfaces of the lowest links at the lower ends of the same, substantially as herein shown and described, aud for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination, with a flexible ladder, of a foot-piece, of bars pivoted to the lowest links, and of brace bars having the lower ends widened or enlarged and pivoted to the bars which are pivoted to the lowestlinks, the said brace-bars being adapted to be held on the lowest links, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a flexible ladder, the combination, with the bars F, pivoted to the lowestliuks, and of the joint-piece P, secured over the joints of the bars F and the lowest links 0, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

WESLEY U. BUSH.

\Vitnesses:

OSCAR F. GUNZ, O. SEDGWICK. 

